Arizona State University (ASU) has announced that it will self-impose a bowl ban for the 2023 season following alleged violations of NCAA rules under former head coach Herm Edwards. The decision was revealed to ASU players in a team meeting before practice on Sunday. The university remains under investigation by the NCAA for the alleged violations, with the program now entering its first season under coach Kenny Dillingham.
The alleged violations occurred when Edwards was at the helm, with ASU reportedly hosting recruits during the extended dead period caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. It was reported that at least 30 players visited ASU’s campus during that period. Since the investigation began, multiple assistants under Edwards have left the program, and Edwards himself ultimately departed.
ASU Athletic Director Ray Anderson released a statement indicating that the university would not comment further on the matter due to the ongoing investigation and the obligation to maintain confidentiality.
Dillingham was informed of the bowl ban by Anderson early in the morning and relayed the news to the team later in the day. The decision has been described as upsetting, and the impact was visible during practice.
ASU President Michael Crow has previously expressed frustration with the pace of the investigation, claiming that the NCAA is moving slowly. Edwards was hired in 2018 but reached a separation agreement three games into the 2022 season after a disappointing 1-2 start. Following his departure, the Sun Devils finished with a 3-9 record and missed out on a bowl game last year.
During Edwards’ tenure, ASU reached a bowl game three times (2018, 2019, 2021), and he achieved a record of 26-20. However, the upcoming 2023 season will be the team’s last in the Pac-12 before moving to the Big 12 for the 2024 season, alongside Arizona, Utah, and Colorado.
ESPN was the first to report ASU’s self-imposed bowl ban.
The bowl ban comes as a disappointment for ASU, which was optimistic about the new chapter under Dillingham’s leadership. Despite expectations of a rebuilding season, the program had a sense of optimism with Dillingham, a former ASU graduate, as the new head coach. The decision to name freshman quarterback Jaden Rashada as the starter also added to the excitement.
Now, the Sun Devils will begin Dillingham’s debut season without the opportunity to compete in a bowl game. This is a significant setback for a program that added 51 new players, including transfers and freshmen, and had high hopes for the upcoming season.
Despite the ban, ASU will face several tough opponents in 2023, including USC, Oregon, Washington, and Utah, all of which are preseason top-25 teams. Dillingham wants his team to make the most of these opportunities and rise above the circumstances.
The Sun Devils will kick off their 2023 campaign on Thursday, August 31, at home against Southern Utah.